Blog - kate sitarz | copywriter

10 Small Businesses to Support

by Kate Sitarz

I have major respect for anyone running a retail business. In the fall of 2015, I took the plunge into running my own business full time. But offering a service, I don’t have to carry inventory, deal with late FedEx deliveries that cost business, or worry about break-ins at my storefront. These business owners do. They hustle to sell great products, create jobs, and build great communities people want to live in.

Because I truly love them, I want to share the small businesses love this holiday season. So, while I’m late to the game, here are X small businesses that I recommend shopping (who needs Amazon when they don’t pay taxes, anyway?)

Shimmer, New Bedford, MA: This shop sells clean and ethical beauty products (i.e. nothing is tested on animals), so you know you can feel good about every.single.product. (And, truly, everything I’ve bought here has been amazing.)

Over the last year I’ve swapped all my generic products with bajillions of unknown ingredients for clean products and it’s made such a difference for my skin.

Bisbee Soap & Sundries, Bisbee, AZ: Bath bomb, soap, hand soap, beard oil … the gift of self care is the best gift.

(An aside: Bisbee is also home to a fabulous brewery… if anyone can get them to ship me some of their Salut and gin, please let me know.)

Paris Market, Savannah, GA: This shop is the place to go for your Francophile friend. They’ve got a fantastic selection of everything from home good and furniture to jewelry from local makers (helloooo, SCAD!).

King’s Books, Tacoma, WA: King’s Books has everything you want in a bookstore: new books, used books, fun gifts (T-shirts and the like), and a cat. Foggy Pine in Boone, NC, is another fabulous option that also ships and also has a resident cat. So many bookstores…

Buggy Town Coffee, Carthage, NC: Everyone has their favorite coffeeshop, but sometimes it’s nice to branch out and try coffee from other shops. If that’s you, try the all the roasts from this coffeeshop: light roasts, dark roasts, and a holiday blend–’tis the season.

They also ship their loose-leaf teas. I swear by their cold and flu blend.

Formaggio Kitchen, Boston, MA: If you didn’t know you could ship cheese anywhere in the country, now you know. The gift baskets are incredible, but you can also shop any of their specialty products. Wine is optional for orders, but highly encouraged (by me…but I’m sure the folks at Formaggio support that statement, too).

Castello Potentino, Italy: Yes, you can get wine shipped straight from Italy. Charlotte moved to Tuscany from the UK decades ago and crafts wines that truly capture a sense of place. Read more about her winemaking philosophy here. And when we can travel again, book a stay.

Westport Rivers Winery, Westport, MA: I love Champagne. I don’t love a Champagne price tag. But I also don’t want to pay $20 on a prosecco I hate (and I hate prosecco). So, it’s a good thing Westport Rivers makes one of the best Champagne-style sparklers I’ve found (the RJR Brut and the Blanc de Blanc). It’s not a bazillion dollars. And it ships.

Olympia Provisions, Portland, Oregon: When you need meats for your cheeses from Formaggio, hit up these kings of homepade charcuterie. This is Oregon’s first USDA-approved salumeria, and while it has grown over the years, their salami and sausages are quality.

Patricia, Southern Pines, North Carolina: There are many reasons to loathe fast-fashion (just Google it). So, if you want to invest in quality, timeless pieces this is your store. Many of the brands Patricia carries are from small, independent makers, too, so you’re supporting multiple small businesses in one purchase.

And while I’m on sustainable fashion, Whitney Madueke has amazing pieces crafted to order.

“Shopping local” these days often means you can support small businesses around the country (thanks, Internet). Those local shops you find when you’re traveling? Or the local shops in places you used to live? You can still support those business owners and know you’re making a major impact.

But I’d also encourage you to find your own local, independent shops, too.

Studies show that for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays in the local community. Less than half that amount stays in the community when you shop at a chain.

Final thought: is it really worth the $1, $2, or $3 dollars saved by purchasing a product on Amazon that you found at a local shop?

These folks do the work of finding and curating a great mix of products. If you like them–and want them to stay in your town–support them.

Career

Why I Don’t Price My Services on My Website

by Kate Sitarz

A common question I get asked is “why don’t you list prices on your website?”

The fast answer: one size doesn’t fit all.

Freelance

Why Freelance Hourly Rates Are Higher Than Employee Hourly…

by Kate Sitarz

“Your hourly rate is … what?”

Before balking at a freelancer’s hourly rate, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.

Productivity

Why Working From Home is Different During COVID

by Kate Sitarz

In the past few weeks, I’ve had a lot of people ask me, “How do you do this all the time?!” I’ve worked remotely for companies across the US for more than five years, due to my husband’s job taking us to Germany and, most recently, North Carolina. But working remote during COVID is different.

Career

How to Effectively Give and Receive Feedback

by Kate Sitarz

Receiving feedback–without getting defensive–takes practice. But just as difficult is giving feedback. Constructive feedback is common in a creative profession. It’s how projects get pushed to the best possible place.

Since feedback is a must for project success, the way we give feedback is critical to getting someone to listen to it–and grow from it.

Content Marketing

Why You Need a Style Guide

by Kate Sitarz

If you have a style guide, carry on. If you haven’t updated your style guide in five years, don’t have one at all, or are wondering, “what’s a style guide?” you’ll want to read on.

Career

So, You Want to Work Abroad? Read This First

by Kate Sitarz

In spring 2015, my husband texted me a spreadsheet with the names of a bunch of Army officers and locations of their next assignments. His name was highlighted next to “Germany.” Germany. Germany?

I was shocked. True, this was much preferable to many of the alternatives. But it did raise a major question: Where did this put my career?

Career

Fighting Freelance Anxiety

by Kate Sitarz

When you have a full-time job, it’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of job security. You’re getting a consistent paycheck, you show up each day from around 9 to 5, and you have your list of to-dos.

There’s no way you could have that same consistency with freelance, right?

Career

Multitasking: What Interviewers Really Mean

by Kate Sitarz

When an interviewer asks you, “Are you good at multitasking?” Your immediate reaction may be to say, “Yes, of course!” That’s what the interviewer wants to hear, right? However, interviewers should reword the question. But since that may not happen, here’s how you need to reply. Read more “Multitasking: What Interviewers Really Mean” →

Productivity

7 Work-From-Home Distractions (And How to Combat Them)

by Kate Sitarz

Working from home is often linked to increased productivity. But while distractions in the home office are different from the distractions in a traditional office, they still exist. Work-from-home distractions require a concentrated effort to ensure you stay on track. Here are 7 remote workers face and ways to combat them. Read more “7 Work-From-Home Distractions (And How to Combat Them)” →

That Freelance Life